Spark intensifier



Aug. 12, 1958 w. A. MERTENS SPARK INTENSIFIER Filedlpril 8, 1957 William A Merle/7s I N V EN TORI.

MM WM /20 mm x! 82 10a 7?;

ll 44 7g 40 2"847, 2 Patented Aug. 12, l 958 SPARK INTENSIFIER William A. Mertens, Belleville, Ill.

Application April 8, 1957, Serial No. 651,432

7 Claims. (Cl. 315-36) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in electrical systems of internal combustion engines, and more specifically to an improved spark intensifier.

In the past it has been found that if there is provided a spark gap between the distributor and spark plug of an internal combustion engine, the spark at the spark plug will be intensified. It is upon this principle that the present invention is based.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a spark intensifier for the high voltage circuit of ignition systems of internal combustion engines, the spark intensifier including a plurality of conductors which are placed in the high voltage circuit for each spark plug, the conductors being so spaced apart so as to form multiple spark gaps, the spark gaps progressively increasing in length towards to spark plug.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved spark intensifier, the spark intensifier being of an extremely simple construction and formed of readily obtainable materials, so as to be economically feasible, the spark intensifier including a base formed of an insulating material having threaded therein a plurality of conductors with portions of the conductors so spaced so as to provide the desired spark gaps.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved spark intensifier, the spark intensifier being mounted intermediate the distributors and spark plugs of an internal combustion engine and including a plurality of series of conductors, the conductors being so arranged whereby portions thereof are closely spaced to form spark gaps, the conductors being so adjusted whereby the spark gaps increase towards the spark plugs and the final spark gap is slightly less than the spark gap of the spark plug.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an internal combustion engine and shows mounted thereon a spark intensifier which is the subject of this invention, a cover, for the spark intensifier having a portion of the cover thereof broken away and shown in section for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure l and shows the specific construction of the spark intensifier.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the spark intensifier, the spark intensifier being referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The spark intensifier 10 includes a base 12 which is formed of an insulating material. The base 12 is supported by a mounting bracket assembly which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14. The

mounting bracket assembly 14 includes an upstanding bracket 16 which is suitably secured to the underside of the base 12 and which has the lower portion thereof mounted on a strap 18. The strap 18 extends betweena pair of hangers 2t) and 22 which are suitably secured to a part of an internal combustion engine 24 on which the spark intensifier 10 is mounted. In the present instance, the hangers 2t) and 22 are secured to a. valve cover 26 of the internal combustion engine 24.

The spark intensifier 10 includes a plurality of series 28 of conductors which are carried by the base 12. There is one series 28 of conductors for each spark plug of the internal combustion engine 24. For each series 28 there is provided an input Wire 30 and an output wire 32. The opposite ends of the input wires 30 are connected to the distributor (not shown) of the internal combustion engine 24 whereas the opposite ends of the output wires 32 are connected to the individual spark plugs (not shown) of the internal combustion engine 24.

In order that the conductors of the series 28 may be protected, there is provided a cover 34. If desired, the cover 34 may be formed of a transparent material so as to permit observation of the operation of the spark intensifier 10. The cover 34 is releasably retained on the base 12 by means of spring slips 36 at opposite ends of the base 12 and is provided with a handle 38 to facilitate handling thereof.

Referring now to Figure 2 in particular, it will be seen that there are illustrated the conductors of one series 28. The conductors of one of the series 28 include an input terminal 40 and an output terminal 42. In order to facilitate the mounting of the terminal forming conductors 40 and 42, the opposite sides of the base 12 are provided with horizontal transverse bores 44 and 46, respectively, which are internally threaded. The terminals 40 and 42 include threaded portions 48 and 50 which are threadedly engaged in the bores 44 and 46, respectively. The terminals 40 and 42 terminate at their inner ends in the form of pointed ends 52 and 54, respectively, and at their outer ends in the form of fitting receiving portions 56 and 58, respectively, for receiving fittings of the wires 36 and 32, respectively.

The base 12 is provided with a plurality of vertically extending transverse bores 60, 62 and 64 which extend therethrough and which are internally threaded. It is to be noted that the bores 44, 46, 60 and 62 lie in a common plane and that the bore 44 intersects the bore 66 and the bore 46 intersects the bore 64.

Threadedly engaged in the bore 60 in a threaded stud portion 66 of an intermediate conductor 68. The threaded stud portion 66 terminates at its lower end in a pointed portion 76 which is disposed adjacent to, but spaced from the pointed portion 52 of the terminal forming conductor 4t). The terminal 40 is retained in an adjusted position with respect to the base 12 by means of a lock nut 72 and the conductor 68 is retained in an adjusted position with respect to the base 12 by means of a lock nut '74. The spacing between the pointed portions 52 and'70 define a first spark gap 76.

The upper part of the stud 66 is bifurcated to provide a vertically extending slot 78. The slot 78 has seated therein a rod portion 843 which is retained in. an adjusted position with respectto the stud 66 by a pair of lock nuts 82 and 84. The lock nuts 82 and 84clamp the rod relative to the stud 66 and are used to adjust both the vertical and horizontal position of the rod 80. i

Threadedly engaged in the bores 64 and extending upwardly therefrom is an externally threaded stud 36 of an intermediate conductor 88. The stud 86 has a lower pointed end portion 96 which is spaced from the pointed end portion 54 of the terminal 42 to define a spark gap 92. The terminal 42 is retained in an adjusted position with respect to the conductor 38 by means of a lock nut 94 and the stud $6 is retained in an adjusted position by means of a lock nut 96.

Like the stud 66, the upper portion of the stud 86 is bifurcated to define .a vertically extending slot 8. The slot 98 has seated therein a rod portion 106 of the conductor 88. The rod portion 100 is retained in an adjusted position, both horizontally and vertically, by a pair of clamp nuts 1492 and lltld.

Disposed intermediate the conductors '78 and 80 is a conductor 106 which includes an externally threaded stud 103 which is threadedly engaged in the bore 62. The stud 16 8 is retained in an adjusted position with respect to the base 12 by means of a lock nut 1 .10. The stud 108 has an upper bifurcated portion defining a vertically extending slot 112 in which there is positioned a rod portion 114 of the conductor 106. The rod 1 4 is retained in an adjusted position, both horizontally and vertically by means of clamping nuts lid and It is to be noted that one end of the rod 80 is disposed adjacent one end of the rod 114 to form an intermediate spark gap 120. Also, one end of the rod 100 is spaced from the rod 114 and aligned therewith to form a second spark gap 122.

From experience it has been found that making the terminals 4i? and 42. and the studs 66, $6 and 103 from quarter inch stock having twenty threads per inch, a micrometer adjustment may be obtained. Because there are twenty threads per inch, each revolution of any of the terminals and studs causes effective movement of the terminal or stud which is equal to 0050. Similar movement is obtained by turning any of the nuts 82, $4, 102, 104, M6 and 3118 one revolution. The rods 8h, ltlt) and 114 are vertically adjusted by using the nuts of their respective studs and adjusted end to end by utilizing a feeler gauge to obtain the desired spark gap.

In order that the spark intensifier 10 may function properly, the spark gaps should increase progressively. However, the maximum spark gap should be less than the spark gap of the spark plug. in one actual test it was found best to make the spark gap .035 for the spark plug, and the spark gap 92/ .030, the spark gap 122/.025", the spark gap 120/.020" and the spark gap 76/.015. Such a spark gap proved effective in an internal combustion engine which was relatively low and which had low compression and was burning oil. In fact, the spark intensifier l functioned so as to cause spark plugs which were normally not "fired to fire and not be grounded out by excessive oil within the cylinders.

From actual test with the spark intensifier in, it has been found that it will lengthen the life of all components of the ignition system of an internal combustion engine including the condenser, the breaker points and the spark plugs. Also, it has been found that it both eliminates fouling of spark plugs and thereby increases the effective life of an internal combustion engine, permits easier starting and affords greater gasoline mileage. Further, the present invention has been found not to overload or otherwise injure the coil.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of conductors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gap being at least three in number and progressive in length.

2. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of conductors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gaps being at least three in number and progressive in length, said conductors including first and second conductors forming input and output terminals, and at least a pair of intermediate conductors, said intermediate conductors having adjustably mounted gap forming rod portions.

3. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of conductors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gaps being at least three in number and progressive in length, said conductors including first and second conductors forming input and output terminals, and at least a pair of intermediate conductors, said intermediate conductors having adjustably mounted gap forming rod portions, said intermediate conductors having bifurcated upper ends defining aligned slots, said upper ends being externally threaded, said rod portions being seated in said slots, clamp nuts threadedly engaged on said upper ends and retaining said rod portions in adjusted positions.

4. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of conductors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gaps being at least three in number and progressive in length, said conductors including first and second conductors forming input and output terminals, and at least a pair of intermediate conductors, said intermediate conductors having adjustably mounted gap forming rod portions, said first and second conductors being disposed at right angles to said intermediate conductors, each of said first and second conductors having an end disposed adjacent an end of one of said intermediate conductors within said base to form two of said spark gaps.

5. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of conductors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gaps being at least three in number and progressive in length, said conductors including first and second couductors forming input and output terminals, and at least a pair of intermediate conductors, said intermediate conductors having adjustably mounted gap forming rod portions, said first and second condutcors being disposed at right angles to said intermediate conductors, each of said first and second conductors having an end disposed adjacent an end of one of said intermediate conductors within said base to form two of said spark gaps, all of said adjacent ends being pointed.

6. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of conductors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gaps being at least three in number and progressive in length, said conductors including first and second conductors forming input and output terminals, and at least a pair of intermediate conductors, said intermediate conductors having adjustably mounted gap forming rod portions, said first and second conductors being disposed at right angles to said intermediate conductors, each of said first and second conductors having an end disposed adjacent an end of one of said intermediate conductors within said base to form two of said spark gaps, said intermediate conductors having bifurcated upper ends defining aligned slots, said upper ends being externally threaded, said rod portions being seated in said slots, clamp nuts threadedly engaged on said upper ends and retaining said rod portions in adjusted position.

7. A spark intensifier for a high voltage circuit of an ignition system, said spark intensifier comprising an insulated base, a plurality of condutcors carried by said base, said conductors being arranged with portions in spaced aligned relation to form spark gaps, said spark gaps being at least three in number and progressive in length, said conductors including first and second conductors forming input and output terminals, and at least a pair of intermediate conductors, said intermediate conductors having adjustably mounted gap forming rod portions, said first and second conductors being disposed at right angles to said intermediate conductors, each of said first 6 and second conductors having an end disposed adjacent an end of one of said intermediate conductors within said base to form two of said spark gaps, all of said conductors being adjustably mounted in said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,288 Pyle Dec. 7, 1920 1,966,370 Yesner July 10, 1934 2,698,402 Graham et al Dec. 28, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 283,436 Italy Mar. 11, 1931 

